Chapter 26
Christabella didn’t talk to me for the rest of the night, nor did she talk to me the next morning when we all broke our fast. Ma summarized the events of the Harvest Festival in detail, down to which families brought which dishes, as if we hadn’t all been there last night.
I was glad it filled the silence, however.
Maddox seemed preoccupied with his thoughts, hardly sparing me a glance.
Only Edmund seemed as he usually was, politely cheerful and engaging in conversation with Sonny and even Pa, the latter of whom, as usual, said little.
When Christabella and Sonny left to work with the weather witches and Ma went back down to the village square to help clean up, I finally had a chance to pull Edmund aside to the parlor.
“What do you wish to speak to me about, Giselle?” he asked, raising his brows at the hard grip I had on his sleeve.
I let go and quickly smoothed the fabric. “Something happened last night.” I took a deep breath and, in a low voice, explained the Prilla Lewis situation to him, grimacing when it came to the parts where he was personally victimized.
Edmund blinked rapidly. “Ah. That’s...quite unfortunate.”
“I’m sorry,” I said miserably. “This has gone horribly wrong.” Perhaps if I had decided to give him a proper tour after all, none of this would’ve happened.
“It wasn’t your fault, Giselle,” he said good-naturedly.
I shook my head, knowing he was only being kind.
Everything felt like my fault. I had chalked it up to bad luck.
Even now, when I had someone to blame everything on, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that I couldn’t do anything right.
“You should go pack. There’s no reason for you to stay miserable down here. ”
Edmund nodded slowly. “I do confess I miss home. And the sun.” His lips quirked at this.
I returned the smile weakly. Knowing my luck, the sky and sun would probably be up and ready the moment he left the village.
“Will you come with me, Giselle?” Edmund said after a moment.
“Of course I’m coming with you. Someone has to show you through a passageway.”
He leaned his elbow on the mantelpiece. “I meant after we make it aboveground. If you don’t have anywhere to go, I’d like to work on our interview some more. And I could use your help with another business venture.”
“Another business venture?”
“Yes. If you’re willing. The sooner the better,” Edmund said. “You can stay with me at the hotel across Blanche de Clare for the time being, unless you have other plans?”
I hadn’t made any plans after this tour. I knew I would finish Narcissa’s wedding dress, of course, but what about after? I certainly couldn’t go back to Mrs. Lewis’s building and beg for my shop back. Not that I wanted to, after everything.
“There are better things waiting for you aboveground, Giselle,” Edmund said gently. “Let me help you achieve them.”
I suppressed the sudden urge to cry, blinking away the stinging sensation in my eyes.
He had been the only person during our time at the village who had encouraged me in my creative pursuits.
He was the only one who understood what I wanted to do—what I was trying to do—and now he was offering to help me.
“You’re too good to me,” I whispered, not knowing what else to say.
Edmund smiled. “It’s what you deserve. Can we leave today?”
“That soon?” I murmured.
“Write your family a note,” he said. “I’ll pack my things.” He was up the stairs before I had time to consider. His eagerness only embarrassed me—his time here must’ve been awful.
Everything was moving so quickly.
I had left Witch Village abruptly once before. Maddox had said he wanted to stay and investigate, but I didn’t think I could stand being here for another second. Hardly anything good had come of this visit. If anything, I seemed to have lost my only ally, Christabella.
I felt like a failure. So why bother staying?